past affects you, should it?

Today with his friend Naman, Rahul went to discuss about participation in robocon 2007.
Naman and Rahul are students at IIT Roorkee. Being from IIT, they both have a secure future. But they want to have an edge over others, so both were interested in robotics. They together had participated earlier in many other events, but this was different.
Rahul was eager to participate but he knew that it would be difficult than he could ever imagine. They both sat down at Naman's room, read the rules of the competition. They both agreed that budget would be around Rs. 30,000, which was a huge amount to arrange for both of them. They discussed some thing about strategies. Then suddenly, as if some thing just forced these worlds out him, Naman said "i don't think we should paticipate in this event."
"what?"
" i think we would be just wasting our time, instead we should do something where we learn something"
Rahul said nothing. He considered himself wise, and wise men don't say things till they are sure of convincing others.
They watched duck tales, actually rahul chose this. After one episode naman said "is this over , aren't we discussing anything more about it. "
" i am waiting for puneet." All hopes of convincing Naman lie with puneet. Puneet is Rahul's classmate and antoher project partener in earlier projects.
puneet arrived after 2 minutes. Some introduction jokes and greetings and then Rahul thought it appropriate to raise the point.
"Naman thinks that we should not participate in robocon 2007"
"and i think he is right...we are heading no where. atleast we should do some thing more constructive" replied puneet. Naman found this oppurtunity great to add his comment " we would have to run here and there without learning a single thing. "
Rahul had to come out with some solid reason, " listen, in our last 2 and half years we have been working in this field. If WE don't represent IIT Roorkee here, nobody can." This was a nice exaggeration of facts. But it worked. Puneet changed side " he is right too." Naman asked "But about finances." Rahul found it an interesting reason himself. He was too tired of robotics because of successive failiures. But he wanted success for a change. About this reason he thought its like asking a sailor coming out of storm, who has lost all his crew, to go back in to it because he is more experienced. But it worked, he was wondering why?